The Sawai Man Singh Stadium, often referred to as the Rajasthan Royals’ stranglehold, never looked more alien to Shane Warne’s men than it did on Monday. On an unfamiliar pitch that played fast and provided good carry, unlike the typical slow-and-low ones available at the venue, Chennai Super Kings racked up a straightforward 63-run win over the hosts.

The pitch could have been a factor, but the Super Kings would have been themselves surprised by the gulf that existed between the two sides on the day. The Super Kings led by a concerted effort from the top four — Michael Hussey (46), Murali Vijay (53), Suresh Raina (43) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (41 not out) — outbatted the Royals from the game, putting on 196/3 in 20 overs — the second-highest score at the venue. They then watched as Royals batsmen play bad shots after bad shots, to be dismissed for 133 in 19.3 overs. Ajinkya Rahane fought gallantly with a 36-ball 52, but didn’t have enough support from the other end.

Earlier, Chennai profited from the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s decision to use a fresh pitch with the top four batsmen firing in unison.

The two strips used so far in the tournament at this venue had been slow and low, but with Mumbai having heavily criticised one of them after their match on April 29, the RCA was forced to begrudgingly lay a track that possessed bounce.

The Royals bowlers' were under pressure from the start when Hussey made his intentions clear with the firstball four off Ashok Menaria past square leg. He was characteristically orthodox in his knock, getting his boundaries through the square region, whenever the bowlers erred in line.

It was pitch that should have ideally helped the fast bowlers, but Hussey never let them settle down. By the time, Warne threw the ball to Johan Botha -who promptly removed the Aussie batsman -Hussey had already taken Chennai to 77 by the ninth over.

For Royals, though it wasn’t a start of a comeback.

Two balls after Hussey was back in the dug-out, Botha had been clobbered for six over the straight boundary.

Chennai carried on this trend, much to the dismay of Royals.

Vijay ran himself out when he was getting into groove, but Dhoni ensured the former’s absence wasn’t even remotely felt. When he came into the crease, Warne’s men still had a chance to keep Chennai down to a chaseable total, with the visitors on 136/2 in the 15th over.

Dhoni though unleashed carnage in the next five overs, helping up the side rack up 60 runs in that period.

Credits: DC Hyd